Let's face it; you never can be too careful when it comes to writing prescriptions and taking into account all the details of your patient's medical history. Are the processes and procedures at your dental office up to date?
On this episode, you'll hear from Andrea and I as we discuss codes of conduct, firewall, and antivirus protection, reviewing medical history, and much more. If you want to make sure your practice is operating at the top of dental compliance, you've come to the right place! Have pen and paper ready; you don't want to miss a minute of this helpful and informative episode.
While technology and computer networks might not be in your wheelhouse, when it comes to protecting patient data, you can't skimp. Time and time again, I hear that staying in compliance is a difficult thing to do, and I get it, but you've got to prioritize certain aspects like network security. Don't try to get by with a "Free" version of anti-virus software or a less than stellar firewall. Take the time to do your research and protect your patient's data, trust me, it's worth it!
A few years back I noticed that Arizona had adopted a strict policy that required all dentists in the state to check their patient's consumption history for controlled substances before writing a new script. Fast-forward to today and almost every state in the country has adopted a similar requirement often referred to as the Prescription Data Monitoring Program (PMP).
The PMP is an excellent tool that allows dental offices like yours to make sure they are taking their patient's full medical history into account. You can learn more about the PMP by listening to this detailed episode!
How often does your dental office update your patient's medical history? Do you do it annually? How did you determine how often you'd request an update? I highly recommend getting an updated medical history of your patients every year. Why risk it when it's just a little extra paperwork? Don't just squeak by with the bare minimum requirements, I've found that the dental offices that set themselves apart from their competition are the ones that go the extra mile to ensure patient safety.
Whether it's network security, the Prescription Data Monitoring Program, updating your patient's medical history, or something in-between, find what works for your office. There is no one size fits all solution when it comes to these complicated and challenging topics. Put in the time to do your research and customize a solution that is tailor made for your specific practice. I've seen way too many offices grab some template from the internet or the cheapest anti-virus software only to find that they regretted the choice when it was too late. Don't let that happen to you!
